JOINT ASSEMBLY FOR A LOCK STRUCTURE

• US 3,853,416 A
• Filed: 05/14/1973
• Issued: 12/10/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abraham Hanan
• Original Assignee: Abraham Hanan
• Inventors: Hanan, Abraham
• Primary Examiner(s): Franklin, Jordan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Berman, Conrad L.
• Application Number:
  US05/360,103
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 24/108,110,211L,217,218 403/20,319,321,326,327,329,360,361,375,322,362,377 63/12,13,29R 287/DIG.7 74/530
• US Class Current: 403/322.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 17/0208 removable
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 17/0216 with automatic locking action, e.g. by using a spring
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2201/00 Fastening by snap action
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2201/32 with one or more springs retaining the stud member
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45634 Operator includes camming or wedging element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/591 having operating mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/606 Leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7041 including set screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7077 for telescoping members

Abstract

In the present invention, in a preferred embodiment thereof, there is provided for the use in mounting jewelry ornamental stones or other pieces in jewelry settings, the setting itself onto a base member such as a broach, a bracelet, a ring, or the like. The preferred mechanism includes a receptacle structure defined on one of the opposing matable members and a shaft or male projection on the other, with the male projection having an engageable slot extending transversely of the shaft, and with the receptacle which is normally on the base member, defining a space which is sufficiently large to include an arcuate substantially horse-shoe shaped spring structure which is biased inwardly and is engagable within the shaft slot when the shaft is slid therethrough, to thereby lock the shaft in the inserted position until such time as the opposing legs of the spring are prized apart, and there being present a wedge member which is movably mounted between the opposing legs of the spring such that upon the wedge member being moved forceably in a wedge manner between the legs of the spring, the legs of the spring are forced apart sufficiently for the shaft to be withdrawn, there being in the wall structure of the base in a preferred embodiment a very small aperture through which a small pin may be inserted in a manner in which pressure may be exerted against the wedge member in a suitable manner to cause by force thereupon the wedge member to slidably be forced in a wedging direction between the opposing legs of the spring. By virtue of this novel invention, there is provided a secure mechanism for attaching jewelry settings to a base, irrespective as to whether or not the spring member is mounted in the setting or whether or not the shaft extends from the setting, and the pin hole is sufficiently small as not to be noticeable to the unsuspecting eye of the consumer and yet provides a ready means for removing the setting of the ring or of the cuff-link, or the like.

Claims

1. A lock device comprising in combination:

an elongated squared shaft of substantially square cross-section defining along an elongated axis thereof an indentation slot defined by recessed substantially flat-faced upright recessed walls outwardly facing from one-another located adjacent and above a substantially horizontal substantially flat-faced step-wall preventing withdrawal of the shaft;

a shaft-receiving hole-structure means defining a receptacle, said hole-structure means being substantially square in cross-section and surrounding a terminal end of the squared shaft and a pair of opposing downwardly-turned upright sidewardly inwardly-facing flat-faced channel-defining spaced-apart walls, said hole-structure means further defining an enclosure space; and

key means including a unitary spring-annulus having at a first location substantially parallel radially inwardly extending spring-biasing locking-legs extending substantially horizontally and having substantially upright leg flat faces positioned on opposite sides of and substantially perpendicular to said pair of downwardly-turned upright flat faced walls such that the flat faces of the locking-legs extend substantially parallel to and snap against the opposite edges of said flat-faced channel-defining spaced-apart walls when the elongated squared shaft is inserted into the hole-structure means'"'"''"'"' receptacle, said enclosure space being defined by containing and substantially circumscribing walls of the holestructure means, the unitary spring-annulus being loosely mounted within the enclosure space, the circumscribing wall having in a side wall thereof a key-aperture extending therethrough of small predetermined size having a key inserted therein, and a movably mounted slide-element mounted within the enclosure space mounted adjacent said spring annulus at said first location, one end of the slide element being substantially wedge-shaped and an opposite end thereof facing radially outwardly adjacent and opposite to an inner end of said key-aperture, the wedge-shaped end being positioned between a first predetermined part of the flat-faces of the locking-legs at said first location such that said key when inserted and pressed through said key-aperture causes said wedge-shaped end to press-apart the locking-legs from one-another as the slide-element is slid radially inwardly in a direction between the locking-legs whereby the shaft when already inserted may be removed.

2. A lock device of claim 1, in which said key means further includes (c) a track-slot-defining guide element of substantially rounded disk shape defining a through center channel extending uprightly of said square cross-section and further defining a radially outwardly extending slot aligned beneath said key-aperture, said slide-element including a downwardly-extending projection seated slidably within said slot slidable to and fro radially inwardly and outwardly guided within the slot.

3. A lock device of claim 2, in wHich mounted on a remaining end of the shaft is a jewelry-setting element.

4. A lock device of claim 2, in which mounted on a remaining end of the shaft is a gear means.

5. A lock device of claim 2, in which said hole means includes on a face away from the receptacle a jewelry-setting structure.

6. A lock device of claim 2, in which mounted on a remaining end of the shaft is a male-button element.

7. A lock device of claim 2, in which said hole means includes structure on which a belt strap is mountable;

and including a belt strap mounted on said hole means, remaining end of the shaft being mounted on a remaining free end of the belt strap.